“HACE + TIME + QUE” EXPRESSIONS
The verb HACER means “to do” or “to make”. It can also be used to say how long something has been taking place. Example in English: I have been studying Japanese for two years.
To say it in Spanish, use the following formula: HACE TIME QUE PRESENT TENSE OF VERB Ej. 1. Hace / un año / que / (yo) estudio español. (I have been studying Spanish for one year.) Other key words: day = ___________ month= ___________ year= ___________ week = ____________ hour = ___________ few = _____________ many = ___________ día mes año semana hora poco mucho
Hace cinco años que él estudia español. EJEMPLO en ESPAÑOL: He has been studying Spanish for five years. Hace cinco años que él estudia español. **you MUST include the subject for the Ud. AND Uds. forms**
How to say how long you HAVEN’T been doing something: To make it negative, just add no before the verb. Ej. 1. Hace un año que (yo) no estudio español. (I haven’t studied Spanish for one year.)
¡VAMOS A PRACITCAR! I have been reading for two hours. Translate the following sentences into SPANISH. Remember the formula! I have been reading for two hours. 2. He has not studied Spanish for five years. Hace dos horas que (yo) leo. Hace cinco años que él no estudia español.